NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Rider University volleyball team earned a reverse sweep Friday night, topping Iona 27-29, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-13. The Broncs improve to 9-12 on the year and 7-3 in MAAC play, while the Gaels fall to 7-17 on the season and 2-8 in league matches.
 
The Broncs opened the match hot, scoring the first six points led by four kills from Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)), but the Gaels quickly countered, scoring 14 of the next 17 points to take the lead. Rider would once again go on a run, scoring five-straight, capped by an ace from Tyler Adams (Wilmington, DE/Ursuline Academy). From that point, the set remained close requiring extra points, where the Gaels claimed the set, 29-27.
 
With Iona leading 8-7 in the second, the Gaels extended the lead with a 5-0 run. Down 21-17, a 3-0 run, including an ace from Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), but a 4-0 counter run by the Gaels put Iona up two sets to none.
 
After giving up the first point of set three, the Broncs answered with four-straight points, capped by back-to-back kills from Erynn Gotsch (DeLand, FL/DeLand). Rider held a 15-12 lead when the Gaels scored four-straight to take the lead in the set. Tied 17-17, the Broncs took back control of the set with a 3-0 run, including an ace by Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West).The Gaels closed to within one at 23-22 and 24-23, but the Broncs got the point needed to extend the match.
 
Leading 13-10 in the fourth, the Broncs pulled away with a 5-0 run on the serve of Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford). After extending the lead to 23-13, the Gaels made a run, getting to within four at 24-20, but a joust win by Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) got the Broncs the point to force the fifth set.
 
Early in the fifth, the Gaels went on a 4-0 run, that was countered by a 3-0 Rider run that evened the set 6-6. Following ties at 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 11-11, and 12-12 the Broncs got a side out, then an ace from Adams to go ahead 14-12 and set up match point. The Gaels fought off the first set point, but the Broncs would win the next point to secure the match.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"Started out executing really well, getting the 6-0 lead in the first, only to be outscored 13-3 right after. The energy and focus dipped through set two with a lot of uncharacteristic plays and decisions. We finally settled in midway through set three and carried it for most of set four. We found a way to win a fifth set when we were not at our best, and I was not very good tonight, so a lot of those losses fall on me. Rylah played great, really stepping up tonight with some other struggling." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Rider cuts Iona's lead in the all-time series to 30-22.
- Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) and Santiago both led Rider with 20 kills each. For Robinson it was her seventh match this season and 18^th career match in double figures. Santiago reached double digits for the 13^th time this season and 46^th time in her career.
- McAleavey and Gotsch each had 10 kills, with McAleavey reaching double figures for the sixth time this season and 15^th time in her career. Gotsch had double digit kills for the sixth time in her freshman season.
- Mason had 57 assists for her 19^th match this season and 65^th match in her career with double digits. She also had a team-high 15 digs for her eighth career double-double.
- O'Connor added 13 digs to secure double figures for the 18^th time this season and 68^th time in her career.
- Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) finished with 12 digs to reach double digits for the third time this season and 10^th time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .228 in the match, while the Gaels hit .188 as a team.
- Rider had 65 kills to 57 for Iona.
- Both teams finished with 63 digs.
- Rider held an edge of 12-10 in blocks and Iona had a lead of 10-9 in aces.

UP NEXT
The Broncs are back in action Saturday, visiting Manhattan for a 4 p.m. match.